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Social Anthropology is no longer accepting new applications.
Teaching
Teaching for the MPhil is via introductory sessions, seminars, lectures and individual supervision. It is centred around four seminars (Kinship/Gender, Politics, Economics and Religion) that constitute the principal teaching under the headings 'Production and Reproduction' (Paper 1) and 'Systems of Power and Knowledge' (Paper 2). Those who are pursuing one of the professional options are expected to attend and take an active part in the above core seminars as well.
In addition to these seminars, the Department requires all MPhil students to attend the Part IIA lecturers for Papers SAN2 and SAN3, plus one other optional paper to be chosen by the student during the first week of Michaelmas term. Students are not expected to confine themselves exclusively to these lectures, and are encouraged to attend any lectures they find interesting. The Department also offers a separate fieldwork research methodology course.
Each student will be supervised by a member of staff who can provide general guidance throughout the course. Students will generally meet their respective supervisors fortnightly and they will be expected to write essays. Supervisions provide an opportunity for them to discuss these essays and to raise wider questions on a one-to-one basis.
| One to one supervision | Approximately ten hours per year, typically three one-hour meetings per term. The University of Cambridge publishes an annual Code of Practice which sets out the University’s expectations regarding supervision. |
|---|---|
| Seminars & classes | 48 hours per year |
| Lectures | 60 hours per year |
Feedback
Each student is expected to write six essays for supervision in Michaelmas and Lent terms. The supervisor usually makes written comments on the essays and discusses them in supervision sessions. These essays are not given an official mark or grade and do not constitute part of a student's degree result. These essays will help students develop the skills of anthropological analysis and are a key means for students and supervisors to monitor progress over the year.
A student is also expected to write one assessed set essay and one dissertation over the year on which they will receive written feedback from the assessors.
Supervisors submit online progress reports at the end of each term via Cambridge Graduate Supervision Reporting System (CGSRS).
Assessment
Thesis
A dissertation of not more than 13,000 words, including title page and footnotes, but excluding synopsis, tables, appendices, and bibliography on a subject approved by the Archaeology, Anthropology and Sociology Degree Committee, which must not overlap with the subject of any assessed essay offered by the candidate.
An oral examination may be held if a candidate is in danger of failing, or to decide about a borderline grade. If needed this would take place in late September
The dissertation counts for 40 per cent of the total marks.
Essays
An independently-written, analytical essay of not more than 6,000 words, including title page and and footnotes, but excluding figures, tables, appendices and bibliography, on a subject chosen by the candidate from a list published each year by the Department and related to the optional paper they are taking.
The subject of the essay must not overlap the subject of the dissertation.
This essay counts for 20 per cent of the total marks.
Written examination
Students sit a three-hour written examination for each of the following papers:
- Paper 1 The Scope of Social Anthropology I: Production and Reproduction
- Paper 2 The Scope of Social Anthropology II: Systems of Power and Knowledge.
Each exam paper counts for 20 per cent of the total marks.